Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-19
written for The EVENING STAR
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
4 VIRGINIA GHOST STORY.
By MARION HARLASD.
TCOnyr1ght 1851

pocketS-"the question, 10 my mind, Is does the
advantage Of seeing three counties at once on a
clear day pay fer the fight with winds from all
four quarters at once on a winter EVENING""
he had spent most OF the December day within
doors In his brisk promenade on the long porch
he glanced, when he passed Them into the drawing
room windows. In the warm area spread about it
by the great fire IN the chimney, he could see
two arm-chairs set SUCCESSFULLY near together on
the rug he had sat IN ali the afternoon. His
fancy now placed In the other slight supple figure
in wine eolored gown with soft laces at neck and
wrists She was young and blue-eyed and had
ruSt-colored hair, with bronZed nipples running
through It; In the cheek next to him was dlmple
that deepened when she laughed His palm
giowed and pulSated with the remembered
warmth Of that which had lain upon it while
they talked He would marry her in May, God
willingly the time the roses would be in
bloom on the bare, brown sticks over there in
the garden His home WAS in Lynchburg, fifty
miles away from the Powhatan plantation pur-
chased six months ago by Gervas Miller his pros
pectiye father-fn-law. long journey by stage or
private carriage in this weather and over the
worst roads In Virginia.
John Speed, the "catch" of his native town, and
engaged TO the sweetest girl in the world yet
found the air raw, the situation Of Round Hill
noted for It's wide outlook, bleak, the landscape
dreary. Eliza shy to her family and friends since
her baby-tongue had invented the pretty substi-
tute for her prOSaic nar1e) had gone up stairs to
dress for supper; Mrs Miller was busy fn her own
domain; Mr. Miller and his two sons were at the
county court house, IL being the first Monday In
the month the circuit court was in session.
The house was roomy, with long frontage a
village OF out-buildfngS shrinking out OF sight in
the rear Lesser hills than that which IL stood
rolled away TO the AppOmattox in one direction,
forests faded into mistiness with distance on all
slices, broken here and there by pine woods, murky
as ink under the sunless heavens. Nature had
OF dun lead-col0r and rusty black, unbecoming and
depressing Broad sere fields crossed by zigzag
FENCES lay near the house. before which row or
pale poplarS shivered with presage or coming
storm, red clay road bisecteti the plantation,
grazing the palings OF the front yard and garden.
This last boundary lined With thick hedge
OF Dox-WoOd, and the same IN miniature b0rlefed
the circular sweep OF the carriage drive and The
paved walk leading from the gate up Ia the porch
The damp wind drove In sullen insfstance against
the walls bent boughs and shrubbery westward
The pedestrian felt his need for the "const1tu-
tional-" He must have fallen asleep before the
FIRE when Shy left him If he had not come out Tor
a breath of fresh air. But as he walked he re-
peated TO himself, more Grossly than became a
enough at Christmas In a hOuseful OF revelers, or
In the summer with plenty OF riding horses at the
disposal OF nice young people, Information here
was synonym for stagnation. He marveled how
nuences.
This was the thought In his mind. as turning at
the end OF the porch In his twentieth round-he
counted them TO pass the time-he saw a man
coming up the brick walk. IAN odd ngure,'' medf-
tared the city beau, but one who had the bearing
OF gentleman A long surtOut OF dreb cloth,
open and flying back as he strobe forward, showed
q blue, close bodied coat trimmed with brass but
tons, run1ed shirt sOiled and rumpied, buff
vest and breecheS OF the same color the coat.
VIsMn over tnem 10 the Knee pair OF top-DootS
stained with red mud completed his attire. He
carried riding whip in his right hand, ard the
side. -.
"A queer fossil, even for the Middle countiesw
commented John Speed, inly, hating to await
come over With CAPTAIN John Smith
The stranger assembled the steps deliberately,
paused at the top and wheeled for look at the
landscape, taking on his hat with a gesture OF
Intense weariness-a respondent SLOUGH OF the
weuknit figure that was inexpressibly mourn
Creole's-John Speed took note OF details
while he still hesftated to advance and
asSost him; The deep eyes shone with red fire,
the lower LIP was fast in the savage bite Of white
SHARP teeth. He was unshaven, haggard, dis
hevelled- hts hair and one eyebrow were iron
sinister cast 10 the corrugated forehead.
When he turned swiftly on his heel and, with
one stride, vanished at the hall door, John Speed
followed instantly. The eccentric visitor might
be privileged netghbOr, or-he reflected uneasily
an escaped lunatie In any case IL was his place
10 shield the ladies from disagreeabe surprise in
the absence OF the host and his sons.
Casting glance into the drawing room windows
as he hurried By them, he saw the unceremoniouS
guest throw himself into of the arin-chars be-
fore the fire The door OF the room was shut and
as the Lynch6urgher opened IL, Trifie, shy's pet
spaniel ran out between his legs yeping shrflly in
pain or terror and scamt,ered up the staircase
John had distinct glimpse OF the figure crouched
together In the chair, elbows on knees and head in
hands, before the dog escaped past him
why, Trife! Here, Trile!' he called reassur-
ingly. "What ts the matter, old fellow?'
As the 1nsulted favorite flashed out OF sight the
young man pushed the door back and entered.
Excuse me, SRI" he began laughingly-
BOTH chairs were empty. Not creature was
present except himself!
He made sure OF it by stirring the fire to glare
was swallowed up In blackness. He oneneIi q
cupboard; went down on his knees to look under
the TWO massive sofas, and the piano, which was
set In far corner OF the vast room de was
alone. The flames climbed the chimney-back with
sonorons roar; the crimson light chased the
shadows 70 he wainScOtted walls and laid a long
silhouette VI himself with wavering outer lines
across the carpet as he stood baffied and bewil-
dered on the rug The rattle Of china and silver
In the adjoining room received now a vocal ac.
compartment, hardly louder than the hre-song
nch. mellow voice was murmuring:
I'VE are passing away.
Like . short winters dayr'
The door OF communication was closed fast The
knob ratified and the lock creaked In Welding no
John Speeds hand SpotSwoOd the Chief butler
was setting supper table spread with damask
which rejected from sheeny folds the light of
half-a-dozsn candies The blaze OF seasoned
hickory logs laid bare every recess of the apart
corner OF the hearth, lsedately observant Of phe
buffers movements. matronly tabby slept with
Two nalt-gTown kittens a between her paws in the
laxed, he felt his wits settle like stirred dregs
Sn the peaceful commonplaceness Of the
Can you give me glass OF water. Spot9p he
asked, advancing as easily as was consistent
Wiz q searching glance all around him.
After drinking half OF II, he stopped to pat the
dog. '~' '-'
.Did hear Nj. Miller speak to your Has he
come homer"
mo. san, he have not. But I'm prespectin him
moMentatlouSly now, as you may say, sah.D
no waS In here with you? Didn't somebody
30 through this room or the hall just now?"
NOT uvln' soul, Mars John, Sence Miss Liza.
sue canned long the passage on her way TO her
caanpcr, 'Oout nau n hour ago. i reckon she
VIII represent herself down n the parlor pretty
recently now, ah,"-too respectful Tor signifi-
s $3.50 out so PLAINLY In sympathy with what he
interpreted as oyery inpaJience that the uueristS
mouth closed IN a smile
he fingered for minute longer exchanged a
1enecAce as 10 the probabilities storm with the
sesqupedadan Official rOndled the black rnuzzIa
tns mastin thrust INTO his hand stirred the sIeen
ing Attels Win his loot, and sauntared back To
the drawing room, heartily ashamed or hts rpluc
lance 10 leave these lOwIy COMPANIONS He was
more naorsined " the queer chfIls and creepinpS
aIong ms mental Vertebr;e, and because OF these
VHlptoLns OF heretofore Gnsuspected weakness
Lnc1neu 10 take himself energeticaIIy In hand
10 THIS END he marched straight up 10 the CHAIR
mysterfogSly occupied and more mysfer,ousIV 20
Gated by the surJouted ana booted stranger Dsssed
his Aand over the back and sides ami AT down In
IL he had cool head for MS years and a beaItbv
nervous system. Reviewing the incident thst
had tested both, he decided That he had been the
victim OF an optical Illusion a freak OF fhe b-ain
or an attack OF Indigestion What might not
happen 10 man OF bis active habits Who sat
over big IRE for six hours love making with no
interruption except what was Offered oy one OF